Page 46 - Port of Baltimore March April 2013
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D
uring its heyday in World War II, the Maryland
Drydock Corporation yard specialized in
“jumboizing” and repairing war damaged ships.
The shipyard in Fairfields also built several ferries,
ships and barges. The yard was later sold to Fruehof and closed
down in 1984. Later, ship breaker Kurt Iron took over 10.5 acres of
the property and began scrapping operations. The largest project
Kurt Iron undertook was the scrapping of the aircraft carrier
Coral Sea in 1994. The project proved to be too much for the
yard, and the vessel’s owner petitioned the federal government
to allow scrapping to take place in India. The government said
that it would be unfair to unsuccessful bidders on the project to
allow the ship to leave the United States. Kurt Iron’s owner, Kerry
Ellis, was ultimately sent to prison for mishandling asbestos and
other toxic materials from the ship.
After that, the site languished for years. In 2004, the Maryland
Port Administration (MPA) approached the community with an
offer to clean up the site and use it for harbor dredge materials.
Since 2007, restoration of Masonville Cove has been under way,
including removing derelict vessels from the water and removing
more than 14,000 tons of wood and assorted debris. The wood
was used as fuel for electricity generation in Pennsylvania, and
recovered metal debris was recycled. The concrete debris was
stockpiled to build artificial reefs to provide a home and shelter
for fish, crabs and oyster beds.
STORY BY KATHY BERGREN SMITH
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The Port of Baltimore
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March/April 2013
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